Common Name: Grey-headed KingfisherScientific Name: Halcyon leucocephalaProtected Status: Not protected by U.S. law or international treaty.Laboratory Section: MorphologyWhat’s the Story? This is a close-up of the spread wing of a specimen of Grey-headed Kingfisher from the Lab’s reference collection. Specimens like this are used to make identifications based on feather size, shape, color, and pattern.

Credit: USFWS.

Parrot Feathers

Common Name: Amazon ParrotsScientific Name: Genus AmazonaProtected Status: Varies: CITES – App. I or App. IILaboratory Section: MorphologyWhat’s the Story? Amazon parrots (genus Amazona) are a diverse group that include many species popular as cage birds. All are protected in the wild.

Credit: USFWS.

Pheasant Feather

Common Name: Great Argus pheasantScientific Name: Argusianus argusProtected Status: CITES – App. IILaboratory Section: MorphologyWhat’s the Story? This large pheasant of Southeast Asia possesses some of the most ornate and beautiful feathers in the world. These feathers are sometimes seen in trade for their decorative value.

Credit: USFWS.

Sea Turtle Shell

Common Name: Hawksbill Sea TurtleScientific Name:Eretmochelys imbricataProtected Status: U.S. ESA – Endangered; CITES App. ILaboratory Section: MorphologyWhat’s the Story? The keratin based scutes from the shell of the hawksbill sea turtle are often used to make jewelry and other artifacts (commonly called “tortoiseshell”). The commercial trade in sea turtle parts is prohibited.

Credit: USFWS.

Cracks in Ivory

Common Name: Elephant or Walrus tuskScientific Name: Order Proboscidea or Order CarnivoraProtected Status: variesLaboratory Section: MorphologyWhat’s the Story? Fine cracks fill with stain from contact with soils or underwater substrates. They form lengthwise, but are usually short and superficial, and can last the life of the animal without harm.

Credit: USFWS.

Rhinoceros horn

Common Name: Black RhinocerosScientific Name:Diceros bicornisProtected Status: U.S. ESA – Endangered; CITES – App. ILaboratory Section: MorphologyWhat’s the Story? A rhinos horn is composed entirely of keratin, like fingernails, but lacks a center core of bone like other animals with horns. This is a view of the bottom outer rim of the rhino’s horn (rim runs from lower right corner to almost center of upper frame), showing remnant of dried connective tissue (white wedge in upper right).

Credit: USFWS.

Rhinoceros horn

Common Name: Black RhinocerosScientific Name: Diceros bicornisProtected Status: U.S. ESA – Endangered; CITES – App. ILaboratory Section: MorphologyWhat’s the Story? A rhino’s horn is composed of thousands of fibrils of keratin (same material as fingernails) arranged in a different matrix of solid keratin. This view shows the dried out, concave underside of a rhino’s horn; the small dots are the ends of the fibrils.

Credit: USFWS.

Hornbill “Ivory”

Common Name: Carved beak of Helmeted HornbillScientific Name: Buceros vigilProtected Status: US Endangered Species Act – Endangered; CITES – App. ILaboratory Section: MorphologyWhat’s the Story? Helmeted Hornbills have an enlarged projection, called a casque, on the front of their beaks. This is composed of dense material which can be finely carved. Trade in such carvings is a threat to the survival of this species, which is found in Southeast Asia, Indonesia, and Borneo.